Clutch mechanism for corn-planters.



S. K. DENNIS.

CLUTCH MECHANISM FOR CORN PLANTERS.

APPLICATION man APILB. 1911.

1 ,203,59 1. Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET la Q N \\\\N\\ L HM H mm; ////////{/{a/////// I Inve nior. Z56 Samzud/fflennis.

W N I S. K. DENNIS.

CLUTCH MECHANISM FOR CORN PLANTERS.

APPLICATION FILED APR-8, 1911.

1 ,203,59 1. Patel'lted Nov. 7, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

S. K. DENNIS.

CLUTCH MECHANISM FOR norm PLANTERS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. B. 19!].

1,203,553 1. Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

S. K. DENNIS. CLUTCH MECHANISM FOR CORN PLANTERS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.8, 19H.

Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

4 SHEETS-$HEET 4 UNITED sra'rns PATENT o mcn.

SAMUEL K. DENNIS, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A-SSIGNGR, BY MEsNn AssreNMEN'rs, To INTERNATIONAL nasvns'rnn CORPORATION, A conronA'rIo on EW JERSEY.

CLUTCH MECHANISM FOR CORN-'PLANTERSQ To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clutch Mechanism for Corn-Planters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to corn planters, and

in particular to the mechanism forming' part of the associated mechanical elements, thereof that is operative to control the seed drop ping means, and it consists in anfinternnt tently operating clutch mechanism connected with the feed shaft of a planter amanner to transmit rotary movement thereto through the traction wheels when'tripped into action automatically by means of a check wire operated in acommon way' or by manually operable means controlled by the operator, and further to means connected with the intermittently operating clutch mechanism and operative to vary movement of the feed shaft and the'clut'ch mechanism whereby a variable number of kernels of corn may be dropped by the seed delivering mechanism connected withthe feed shaft; the objects ofmy invention being to provide a clutch mechanismfor the purpose indicated that will be positivein its operation, comprising few parts, one that may be readily manipulated, strong and durable in its construction, and not liable to become disarranged and inoperative.

attain these objects by means of mechanism one embodiment of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-+2 V ,Figure 1 represents a top plan view'oi' part of a corn planter having my invention embodied in its structure; Fig. 2 represents a front elevation of part of Fig; 1 on an enlarged scale and designed to illustrate the manner of mounting and the construction of the clutch mechanism; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a detached detail,

7 partly in section, anl designed to illustrate the construction and intermittently operating connected with the feed shaft; Fig. 5 is a detached detail of part of the clutch cam and its controlling means and designed to show themanner of operating the clutch controlling means whereby a variable num-' ber of kernels of corn may be deposited; Fig.

- 6 is a similar viewshowing the clutch con I Specification of Letters Patent.

the relative angular" operation-of part of the clutch mechanism trolling cam in a different position of adjustment; F ig; 7 is like Fig. 6 excepting the another position in itsadjustment; Fig. 8 represents another position of the clutch controlling cam.

The same reference characters designate the same parts throughout the severalviews.

1 represents a U-shapedwheel frame hav ing the side members thereof pivot'a'lly connected at their'front ends to draft brackets 2 by means of pins 3,'the brackets being se cured to a transversely arranged draft bar 4:,

to which is secured the rear end of. a draft tongue 5, and 6 representstongue braces upon opposite sides of the tongue, having their front ends secured thereto and their rear ends adjustably connected with draft bar by means by toothed plate members 7 whereby the front endof' the draft tongue may be adjusted to a higher or lower level relative" to the draft frame of the machine.

Patented Nov. 7, 1916;. Application filed A rils, 1911. Serial No. 619,643.

has been moved 'to a the 8 represents a driving axle journaled in I bearings 9 secured to the side members of the wheel frame, and 10 represents traction and of said axle.

11 represents rearwardly extendingbrackets secured to the rear end of the wheel frame, 12 a transverse barsupported by the brackets, and 13 wheel scrapersadjustablymountedupon' opposite, ends of the bar. V Secured to opposite ends of the draftbar E i: are bracketmembers 1%; having a clutch trippingiand a seed valve operatingrock carrying wheels mounted upon oppo'siteends shaft 15 journaled therein. The, means for .e rocking said shaft include levers v16, having one end secured to the shaft and the opposite end -made fork-shapedin a manner to receive a check wire, the tappets of which operate toswing the lever at stated intervals in a well-known way as the machine is caused to advance, the wire being guided by rollers 17 mounted upon a controlling frame ion 18- pivotally connected withthe bracket in anypreferred manner,and 19 represents a common form of'spring-pressedlatch mechanism that releasably secures the controlling frame inoperative position,

Means for rotating. the seed shaft include a sprocket wheel '36 loosely journaled upon the shaft and means of a drive chain to either ofa series of sprocket-whee1s 37 having variable diwhi'ch can be connected, by

, sions 40 upon its interior a stud 42 secured to a pawl arm 43 that is" pivotally connected with an arm integral with a sleeve 45 loosely journaled upon the seed shaft. The pawl arm is'provided with a heel portion 46 upon one side of its pivot that is adapted to contact with the sleeve in a well-knownway' infia manner to limit a swinging movement of the 47 represents arm in one direction, and a compression spring operative between an ear portionv 48 formed uponthe sleeve and the opposite side of nection of the arm in a manner to yieldingly press said arm in the same direction and to cause said roller to enter thewdepressions in said clutch member. The roller is normally held out of engagement with the depressions by means of a portion 49 extending beyond adapted to contact with a knockout roller 50 that is journaled at the outer end of an outwardly curved arm 51 that is provided with'a' sleeve portion 52 at its. opposite end that" loosely receives the clutch tripping shaft 15, and 53 represents a radially projecting'arm integral with the sleeve and provided with a transverse opening at its outer end that receives'one end of an equalizing bar 54, the opposite end of the bar being received by an opening in a similar arm 55 that is integral with a sleeve 56 that is secured to the clutch tripping shaft by means of a pin 57.

58 representsa tension spring having one endconnected with the equalizing bar intermediatethe adjacent arms and its oppositeend withjthe hock-shaped end of a rod 59 that has its opposite end to the draft bar 4 in a manner whereby the tension of the spring may be regulated.

The arm 44 with a semi-circular notch 60 that is adapted to receive the knockout roller 50 when the clutch parts are in normal position, as illustrated in Fig. 5. 61 represents a supplemental arm integral with the sleeve 45 and extending laterally therefrom in the direction of the vided with car portions 62 that project from the arm at right angles with the axis of the shaft and are spaced apart in a manner to receive between them a pawl 63 that rocks about a pin 64 connecting the pawl inter mediate its ends with the ear portions. The

r pawl is provided with a hook-shapedportion 6o, at one end thereof and a tail portion preferred. number the pivotal con,

the axis of the roller and 7 that its hooked adj ustably secured is provided at its outer end axis of the seed shaft and pro 66 at its opposite end, and 67 represents a compression spring operative between the armandtail of the pawl in a manner to yieldingly rockit in one direction, about its pivotal connection with the arm. I

68 represents a cylindrical clutch member secured to the seed shaft and provided with a series of grooves 69 upon its periphery, the

being four, that are aranged parallel with the axis of the shaft and adapted to receive the hooked end of pawl,63.

70,. represents a swinging camv having a sleeve portionv 71 at its lower end that loosely receives the trip shaft, and 72 represents an index bracket having a toe portion 73 atq its. lower end wherebylitv is secured to the draft bar 4, and laterally arranged sleeve portionsv '74 and 75 having openings thatv loosely receive the seed andclutch tripping shafts, respectively, and 76 represents a laterally extending index plate at the upper end of the bracket that is arranged concentric with the axis of the swii'iging cam adjacent its inner surface and provided with a series of radially arranged openings 77 that are adapted to receive the inner end of a spring-pressed plunger bolt 7 8 in a manner to secure the cam in-any desired position of adjustment. Theswinging cam is provided with two knockout surfaces 79 and 80 at the front and rear sides thereof,respectively, of unequal length, the. front one being the longest, said surfaces adapted to contact with thetail portion 66 of the pawl 63 in a manner to rock the pawl about its pivot and disengage the hooked end thereof from the groove 69 in the clutch member 68 with which it may be engaged, and the length of the contact surface with which the pawl engages determines the -number of grooves end will pass before it is permitted to. ree'ngage with the clutch n1e1nher. When the swinging cam is thrown forward about its axis and the plunger bolt is in engagement. with the; index plate, as shown in Figs. 5 and 8, the tail portion of pawl 63 will engage with the short contact surface 80 and disengage the pawl from the groove, and as thetail immediately passes beyond the-contact surface the pawl is allowed to move into engagement with the next succeeding groove. When the swinging cam is thrown rearward andthe plunger bolt is in engagement with-the index plate, as shownin Fig. 7, the tail portion will on gage with the long contact surface 79 and hold the-pawl inoperative untilit passes beyond the end of the surface and is allowed to engage with the nextsucceeding groove, and when the swinging cam-is thrown to a neutral positionwith the plunger bolt engaging with the index plate, as shown in Fig. 6, thetailportion-of the pawl; wil-l'not contactwith ei-tl-ierI ofthe; knockout surfaces plete orpartial, revolution,

the position of adjustment ofthe swinging therebyreleased from engagement..

means 1:

and the :pawl will-remain engaged with they clutch member continuously; i

The clutch mechanism is tripped into;

action by rocking movement of the trip shaft in a rearward direction, which causes the knockout roller 50, carried by the curved arm 51, to become disengaged from the pawl armj43, allowing thi latter to rock about its pivot'in a manner :to'causeroller ll to engage with clutch member 38, and bycaused to rotate with the clutch member untilgone complete revolution is 'madeand the arm 43 again contacts with'the knockout roller 50, and the clutch members are rm 44 is first to come in contact with the knockout roller, and as the roller. rides over the Wall of the semi-circular, notch upon the side in the direction'of rotation of the arm rocking of. the trippingshaft. V i

' pawl 63,;

The sleeve 45 carries with it the and the pawl engages with the grooved clutch member 68- in a manner to causeit and the seed shaft 'toeith'er make a comvdependent upon cam. 7 With the latter the seed shaftv will in a neutral position ward position the seed shaft will make threequarters of a' revolution,

The ratio of the gears connecting the seed shaft with the seed to one. and therefore the seedplate will be given one-quarter of a revolution for! each complete revolution of the seed shaftgi three-sixteenths of .a revolution for each th ee-quarters of. eighth of va revolution for eachone-half re olution thereof. There are sixteen seed cells in the seed plate, equally distributed upon its periphery, and when it is given one-quarter of a revolution there arede corn; wh n gi en three-slxteenths of a revoluti n. three kernels, and when given oneelghth of :a; revolutmn; two. kernels.

posited intheseedconduit four kernels of.

the depressions in the rim of the sleeve 45 is there- 8 does ,notcause the trippingshaft V in its bearingsfOr-the reason that a fixed arm 55 by" 'ustin mechanism h the independ shown herein is used for tlfltlOIl and that the construction and ar-',

rangement of parts may make a complete revolu tion. WVhen the cam is adiusted'to its for;:

and when the cam e is adiusted to its rearwardposltion the seed shaft will make one-half of a revolution.

plates is as vfour; p k ently engageablewith said pawl indifferent a revolution. and one-- The clutch tripping shaftmayibe-either rocked automaticallybv'means'ofrthe check.

wire or manually the machine and ping shaft.

It will be notedith at, when dropping three I I kernels, through of cam'member, ratchet is disengagedquarters of a. revolution of the seed shaft,

the pawl which engages the myj improved construction 7 51 therefrom after three 1-2.

a substantial interval, beingthus provided I between the time of pawl and the time of re'engagement of the knockout with the primary clutch mecha-.;

disengagementpf the sov nism. Obviously, by theimprOVedf rm of i cam shown, a relativel' large Wearingsur- 9 face is also provided life to the mechanism, the life ofthe same adapted to give "long alsobeing increased byzthe fact that a oer-' .1

tain cam surface is drop, the elongatedlor arcuate cam not: being used when dropping three kernelsande the projection on the opposite side of the.

only used for a certain ,3

Cam not ng in use, when dropping tWOf'"; kernels. ,It will also be noted that theuadi.

for the camis within" easy reach of the -operatorzand Offi com-vi;

,pact form readily adapted tov shipment without danger of breakageor'the neces-w sity of removing parts. ,The advantages -of my improvedconstructionwill be apparent? to those skilled in the art. i a While Ihave in this application specifiloo cally described one 'embodlmentof my invention, it is to be understood-that the form purposes of illusbe modified and the:

invention embodied in other forms without departing from ts spirit, it being my in-.

tention to include all such-constructions cl within the scope of vthe appended claims.

\Vhat I claim as my. invention, and desireto secure by, Letters Patent, is; e

1. In a planter, a seed shaft, rotary clutch i mechanism controlling the movement there- :f

Imechanism controlling the connection thereof including a pivotedvpawl, a-cam pivoted at onesideof said shaft having pawl engag-r ing arms extending on opposite sides of said shaft, and meansfonadjusting said cam 5 seed shaft. rotary clutchi about its pivot. 3. In a planter, a

a seed shaft, rotary clutch mechanism controlling the connection thereof including api'votedpawl, a-.,cam pivoted at one, side 'of said' ,shaftihavingpawl enfw Jgagingarmsextending on oppositesides 'of'i 30 said shaft, and means carried by one of said pawl engaging arms above said shaft for ad'- 'justmg said cam about its pivot.

4-. a planter, a seedsha-ft, rotary clutch mechanism controlling the connection there of including a: pivoted pawl, a cam pivoted at oneside of said shaft having pawl engaging arms extending on oppositesides of said shaft, and cam adjusting means supported by said cam in the interval between its arms and engageable with said frame.

5, In a planter, a seed shaft, rotary clutch mechanism controlling the connection there'- 7 of including a pivoted pawl, a cam pivoted j ournaled thereon,

ously operating at: one side of said shaft having pawl engaging arms protruding therefrom on, opposite. sides of'sai d shaft, one of said arms hav ing' an. arcuate cam surface and the other having a projection thereon, and means for adjustingsaid cam whereby said pawl may engage either said cam surface or said pro jection.

6. In a planter, a seed shaft, rotary clutch mechanism'controlling the connection thereof including a pivoted pawl, a cam pivoted at one side of said shaft having pawl engaging arms protruding therefrom on opposite sides of said shaft,one of said arms having an arcuate'pawl engaging surface and the other having a means for-adjusting said cam whereby said pawl may engageeither said pawl engaging surface or said projection or rotate freely without engaging either of the same.

' In a planter, a frame, a seed shaft variable clutch mechanlsm operatively connected to said shaft including a pawl, a swinging cam pivoted at one. side of said shaft and having pawl engaging arms extending on opposite sides thereof engageable with said pawl in different positions of said cam, a member bridging the space between said arms on the opposite side of said shaft from said cam pivot, and means including an adjustable member carried on said last mentioned member ongageable with said frame in a plurality of positions of said cam.

8. In a planter, a frame, a seed shaft journaled thereon, variable clutch mechanism operatively connected to said shaft including a pawl, a swinging cam pivoted at one side of said shaft and having pawl engaging arms extending on opposite sides thereof engageable with said pawl in different positions of said cam, a member bridging the space between said arms on the opposite side of said shaft from. said cam pivot, and means including a resiliently connected member carried on said last mentioned member and ,engageable with said said frame in a plurality of positions of said cam.

9. In a planter, the combination with a seed dropping plate of a feed shaft, continumechanism including a projection thereon, and

cam member about its pivot.

clutch member and provided with a a abas er ratchet wheel journaled upon said shaft, a clutch comprising a body secured to said shaft and carrying two pawls, one of said pawls adapted to be thrown into engagement with said ratchet and moved a certain predetermined distance, a second ratchet wheel secured to said'shaft, the second pawl adapted to be thrown intoengagementwith said second-ratchet wheel during a whole or a part of the predetermined movement of said first pawl, and an adjustablemember having cam surfaces disposed on opposite sides ofsaid second ratchet engageable with said second pawl.

10. In a planter, the combination with a seed dropping plate of a feed shaft, continuously operating mechanism including a ratchet wheel j'ournaled upon said shaft, a clutch comprising a body secured to said shaft and carrying two pawls, one of said pawls adapted to be thrown, into engagementwith said ratchet and moved a certain predetermined distance, a second ratchet wheel secured to said shaft, the second pawl adapted'to be thrown into engagement with said second ratchet wheel during a whole or a part of the predetermined movement of said first pawl, a pivoted cam member having pawl engaging members projecting on 0pposite sides of said second ratchet Wheel and engageable with the pawl engageable therewith, and means for adjusting said 11. A clutch mechanism including, in combination, a rotatable shaft, a constantly rotatable clutch member j'our aled upon said shaft and having a rim portion provided with internal depressions therein, a sleeve ournal'ed upon said shaft adjacent said pawl carrying armhaving a semi-circular notch at its outer end, a rocking clutch tripping arm having a roller ournaled thereon and pressed pawl pivotally mounted upon said pawl carrying arm and adapted to engage with said internal depressions and with'the roller upon said clutch tripping arm, a second clutch member secured to said shaft at the opposite end of said sleeve and provided with pawl engaging grooves upon its periphery, a second spring-pressed pawl carried by said sleeve and adapted to engage with said grooves, an adjustable cam pivoted beneath said shaft and engageable with said second pawl having a portion disposed transversely of said Shaft, and controlling means connected to said transverse portion of said cam above the pivot thereof controlling the adjustment thereof.

12. A clutch mechanism including, in combination, a rotatable shaft, a constantly rotatable clutch member journaled upon said shaft and having a rim portion provided with internal depressions therein, a

on said pawl carrying arm pawl carrying arm having a semi-circularnotch at its outer end, a rocking clutch tripping arm having a roller journaled thereon and adapted to engage with said notch, a spring-pressed pawl pivotally mounted upengage with said depressions and with the roller upon saidclutch tripping arm, a second clutch member secured to said shaft at the opposite end of said sleeve and provided with pawl engaging grooves upon its periphery, a second spring-pressed pawl pivotally mounted upon said sleeve and having one end adapted to engage with said grooves, a swinging cam surrounding said second clutch member and adapted to contact with the opposite end of, said second pawl in a manner to disengage said pawl from said grooves at varying degrees of the angular movement of said second clutch member. 1

13. A clutch mechanism including in combination, a rotatable shaft, a constantly rotatable clutch member journaled upon said shaft and provided with a rim portion having internal depressions therein, a sleeve journaled' upon said shaft adjacent said clutch member and provided with a pawl-carrying arm having a semi-circular Copies of this patent may lnotch at its outer secured to saidrshaft in a manner and adapted to nal depressions and with ed upon said rock shaft,

be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Washington, D. 03:

end, a rock shaft journaled adjacentsaid rotatable shaft and means for rocking said shaft, a clut'ch to rock therewith in one direction and having a roller journaled thereon and adapted to en-' gage with said notch, a spring-pressedpawl pivotally mounted arm andadapted to vengage with said intersaid clutch tripping arm, member secure the opposite end of said sleeve and provided with pawl engaginggrooves upon its periphery, a second spring-pressed pawl piv otally. mounted upon said sleeve and having one end adapted to engage with said grooves, a swinging cam surrounding said second clutch member and pivotally mountsaid cam, adapted to contact with the opposite end of said tripping arm upon said pawl carry ng the roller upon a a second clutch. f (1 to said rotatable shaft at.-

second pawl in amanner. to disengage said pawl from said grooves at varying degrees of the angular movement of said second clutch member, and means for retaining said cam in various positions of its adjustment. I

I SAMUEL K. DENNIS.

Witnesses J AMES A. MOXEY, EVAN EVANS.

Commissioner of Patents, 

